Rotary engine.



Patented 0011.27, 1908. 6 SIiBETS SHEBT 1.

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lN-VENTOR Patehted 0611.27, 1908. I

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H W N COLE ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES. Z 5. M

H. W. N. COLE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIUATION IILBD FEB. 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

- e SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. W. N.COLE-.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908.

Patented 0011.27, 1908.

6 SHEETS-SH i; T 5

fl ATTRNEYS H. W. N. COLE.

RQTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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WITNESSES: ENVEIHOR is. awwmz w f BY v n j ATTORNEY PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. N. COLE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed February 12, 1908. Serial No. 415,564.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. N. COLE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyin drawings, forming a part thereof.

y invention relates to im rovements in rotary engines and particular y to that ty e of rotary engine which comprises a c lindgr or casing, a crankshaft journaled t" erein, a rotary piston freely mounted upon the crank portlon of the shaft within the said cylinder, and sliding abutments which divide the steam space within the cylinder into several chambers.

My invention consists, first, in an improved means for operating the said sliding abut ments; second, in an im roved valve mechanism comprising a com ined inlet and exhaust valve mounted upon the main shaft in a chamber to one side of the central steam space, the said combined valve being common to the several chambers into which the steam space is divided third, in an improved means in connection with the valve for controlling the period of admission, said means including a rider for the valve, and a device for changing the position of the rider with respect to the valve, fourth, in an improved form and construction of automatic governor for the said controlling means, and lastly, in various novel features of construction and combination of parts as will hereinafter be fully pointed out.

The objects of my invention are, first, to

reduce thewear caused by friction upon the operating means for the sliding abutments, and between the sliding abutments and their housings; second, to avoid the employment of separate inlet and exhaust valves upon opplosite sides of the central steam space such as as been commonly em loyed heretofore in this form of engine; third, to romote econom in matter of the motive uid employed h thereof; fourth, to vary the period of admission of the motive fluid automatically in accordance with the load upon the engine; and lastly, to improve and simplify, generally, the construction of the engine as a whole, to provide for ready access to the various worky varying the period of admission,

the piston.

understood, 1 will now proceed to describe an embodiment thereof, aving reference to the accompanying drawings illustratin the same, and will then point out the nove features in claims.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a view in central vertical longitudinal section through a rotary engine constituting an embodiment of my invention, the controlling mechanism for the inlet valve being shown, in this instance, as hand operated. Fig. 2 is a top view with certain parts broken away and other arts shown in section. Fig. 3 is a detail etached view of the form of valve and .rider em loyed in an embodiment of my invention s own in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4. IS a view in end elevation of the engine with the cover plate for the valve chest removed, certain portions of the valve mechanism being broken away, and other parts shown in section. Fig. 5 is a'similar view in end elevation with the cover plate removed, the engine' in this instance being-shown as provided with an automatic governor for operating the inlet valve controlling means, in place of the hand operated means shown in the other figures. Fig. 6 is a detail detached view of certain parts illustrating the said governor and its connections in side elevation. Figs. 7 and Sare detail detached views in front view in central longitudinal section through a portion of the piston, showing also a portion of one of the abutments in connection in rear elevation of the valve employed. Fig.

sty e of valve governing device shown Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. 11 general this engine COTPIISGS acylinder -0: casing 20 provided with end heads2I-22 ing parts, and to reduce leakage losses around in order that my invention may be fully elevation of the valve, its rider, and the valve parts in different relative away in order to illustrate other parts to the rear thereof. Fig. 10 is a detail detached therewith. Fig. 11 is a detail detached view 12 is a detail diagrammatic view showing the ap lication of an automatic governor to the and inclosing a c lindrical chamber or steam space 23; a clan shaft 24 mounted in bearings 25 in the said end heads and having its crank portion 26 contained within the chamher 23; a cylindrical piston 27 freely mounted upon the crank portion of the shaft 24 and arranged inrollm contact with the inner peripheral wall of t e cylinder; sliding abutments 28 which'divide chamber 23 into a plurality of separate steam spaces; and suitable valve mechanism for controlling the admission of motive fluid to and from the several steam spaces.

' The piston 27 may convenientl be formed as a single integral structure, an in order to facilitate the mounting of it in position, the crank shaft may be formed in two separate parts suitably connected together through the crank portion 26. Roller bearings may be provided between the crank pin 26 and the said piston in order to permit it to rotate freely and to save wear between the parts. The piston is conveniently provided. with acking rings 29 which are disposed in rooves 1n the side of the said piston, the sai piston bein provided with ports or, assages 30 whic admit steam from within t e chamber 23 to the grooves at the rear of the packing rings 29 soas to normally force the sa1d packing rings outwardly, and in addition, s iral or other springs 31- may be employed desired. This construction forms a convenientacking for preventing steam from leaking from the steam space 23 between the ends of the piston and the inner faces of the end heads. The sliding abutments 28 are mounted to reciprocate radially backwards "or forwards into chambers or recesses 32,

the side edges of the 'abutments being disosed in suitable radial grooves 33 in the end heads 21-22. At their end heads, the said abutments areprovided with arms-34 which project over the periphery of the piston 27 and these armsare provided with antifriction rollers 36 which engage upon one side with the inner walls 37 of the cylindricalplanetary movement within the cylinder, the

axis thereof following a circular line drawn with the axis of the crank shaft'as a centerand the distance between the axis and the crankshaft and the axis of the'crank pin as a radius. But inaddition to this orbital or planetary movement, the 'said piston wlll I cylinder.

in the valve seat 44.

scams also receive a rotational movement about its own axis produced by the rolling contact of its periphery with the inner periphery of the The direction of this rotational movement will be opposite to the rotational movement of the crank shaft, whereby said inner walls 37 of the piston will have a rotational movement in a direction opposite to the direction of rotational movement of the periphery of the disks 38. True rolling contact will then be the result between the anti-- friction roller 36 and the two surfaces engaging them whereby friction will be practically eliminated at this point. The piston by means of this engagement with the abut ments, will readily move the same backwards and forwards as the crank shaft revolves, their movements being such as are required in the operation of the engine. Each of the steam spacesinto which the chamber 23 is.

divided y the'said abutments 28 is provided with an inlet ort 40 and exhaust port 41, and the said in ct and the exhaust ports con meet with the suitable passages which lead to inlet ports 42 and exhaust ports 43 arranged This valve seat is disposed upon-the outside of the cylinder head 22 and within a chamber 45 inclosed Within a valve chest com rising a casing 46 and a head 47. This val ve seat 44 is of disk like form and has one port 42 for each said cylinder inlet ort 40, and one said exhaust port 43 for each said cylinder exhaust port 41,each of the said sets of portsibeing arranged equidistantly around the said valve seat 44.

Mounted upon the crank shaft 24, within the valve chamber 45, and with its face in engagement with the valve seat 44 is a valve 48. This valve is secured fast to the main shaft 24 but is provided with a projecting hub 49 which has a bearing upon a boss 50 which rojects inwardly from the said valve casing ead 47 (see Fig. 1). The valve 48 has inlet orts 51 which are adapted to register, in the rotation of the said valve, with the shaft upon which it is mounted, with the inlet ports-42 in the valve seat 44, and also has an exhaust port or opening 52 which is similarly arranged to come into register successively with the exhaust ports 43 of the said valve seat. The valve 48 is shown -as provided with a number of the said inlet ports 51, such ports conveniently arranged around an arc of about 120 degrees ofthe said valve, whereby steam or other motive fluid may be admitted to the said steam space throughout the entire movement of the piston through each such individual steam space. In other words as there are three steam'spaces. in the particular engine herein illustrated, such steam spaces will represent 120 degrees of the revolutionof the engineand the valve is designed so as to admit steam throughout the entire 120 degrees. The

said openings, however, have blank spaces face of the dis hub 49 of the said valve.

between them so that they may be conveniently controlled. On the other hand, the exhaust port or opening 52 may be, and preferably is, a continuous opening, extending for not less than 120 degrees, and not more than 240.

. For the purpose of controlling the inlet openings 51 of the valve, I have provided the said valve with a rider 53, said rider comprising a disk-like portion whichengages the rear portion of the valve 48 and a hub portion 54 which is mounted upon the This rider is provided with a number of openings 55 also disposedthroughout substantially 120 degrees thereof, the said openings being so disposed that in one position of the rider with respect to the valve all of the said openings will be in register with the said valve inlet ports 51. It is in this osition that the parts are shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and this may be termed the first, or full open, position.

By rotating the rider upon the valve in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 7 (the valve in this instance being assumed to be held stationary), it will be seen that the various valve inlet ports will be successively cut ofi by the rider. The whole distance through which the rider is compelled to move in order to cut off all of the ports, is a distance of a few degrees only, being from a position shown in Fi 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8. This istance, it willv be seen, is only that required for the first opening 55 (namely, that opening which is on the extreme left) of the rider to movefrom a position in register with the first inlet port 51 of the valve, to a position just before coming into register with the second inlet port or opening of the said valve. The ports are shown in this position in Fig. 8 of the drawings. This is the last or the full closed position. In moving from one position to the other, it will be seen that the rider will cut ofi the several ports or openings 51 in the valve 48 successively, from the first to the last, so that a very small movement of the rider upon the valve will have the effect of controlling the said valve ports during the entire 120 degrees. It will, of course, be readily understood that a single port of the required length might be emplo ed in the said valve and the rider arrange to cut off more or less of this single port or. opening in its movement in relation to the valve but in thus using a plurality of openings in both the valve and the rider, disposed with respect to each other as shown, I obtain, by a very small relative movement of the parts, what would otherwise be obtained by a very much larger relative movement. If the single portof the valve were 120 degrees long, it would, of course follow that the rider would have to move through 120 degrees to completely con- ..trol'it.

valve and rider with respect to each other is that in which the ports of the valve are arranged at a slightly greater distance apart than are the orts of the rider, but that the sum of such (liflerences plus the entire width of the first port of the valve, is less than the distance between the ports or openings in the rider.

The rider 53 is mounted to rotate with the valve 48 and normally rotates therewith without any change of relative rotative position,

but in order to change the position of the rider with respect to the valve, a manual operating means is provided whereby the rider may be positively set with respect to the valve and only adjusted under the will of the operator, or an automatic governing means b which the rider may be actually adjuste in the running of the engine according to variations of load, may be employed, if preferred. The manual operating 7 means is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 3 and 4 of the drawings, and comprises a traveling ring 56 mounted upon the hub 54'of the rider and adapted to partake of the rotational movements of the said valve and rider, and another ring 57 mounted outside of the saidring 56, the said ring 57 being held stationary so far as any rotational movement is concerned. The said ring 57 is secured by means of rods 58 to a' crosshead 59, the said rods 58 passing through suitable openings in the valve casing head 47, such openings being provided with packing boxes 60 to prevent escape of steam. The ring 56 is provided with anti-friction rollers 61 which are received within an internal annular groove 62 in the ring 57. The ring 56 is thereby free to move rotationally with respect to the ring 57, but upon movements being given to the ring 57 longitudinally with respect to the axis of the engine, such longitudinal movements will be thereby imparted to the said ring 56. The said ring 56- is also provided with inwardly projecting s uds which carry anti-friction rollers 63. These anti-friction rollers are received within divergent cam grooves 64-65 with which the .hubs 54 and 49 of the rider 53 and valve 48 are respecare so constructed, adjusted and designed that a complete movement of the rings will produce such a movement of the rider as to completely control'the said valve ports. The required ongitudinal movements are pro duc ed bymanipulation of a hand wheel 66, such hand wheel in its rotation being arranged to move the crossh'ead 59 backwards and forwards and thus to impart suchmovements through the rods 58 to the ring 57.

* have shown t e sai by a rack 85rwhich is operated by an ordmary centrifugal governor 86.

An automatic governing device is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings and comprises a centrifugal weight 68 pivoted at 69 in a pro'ection 7 0 from the hub 49 of the valve 48, the said centrifugal Weight having an arm 71 extending upon the opposite side of the pivotal support 69 and connected bymeans of a link 72 with the said rider 53.

speed of rotation of the valve, thereby producin relative movements between the rider and the valve such as will control the valve openings proportionatel to the speed of the engine and hence to the oad under which the engine is operating.

In Fig. 12 I have shown somewhat diagrammatically,a governor ap plied to the style of valve controlling device s own in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. In this figure I have shown a gear wheel 84 as re lacin the hand Wheel 66, and gear wheel as engaged Referring agam to Fig. 1, it willbe seen that I have provided means for holding the valve up to 1ts seat independently of fluid pressure, such means comprising a presser ring 75 which is mounted w1thin the stationary hub 50, said ring arranged to: bear on one side upon a flange 76 with'which the valve is provided and engaged upon its opposite side; by means exerted to press thevalve forward. The said- Y ringis .provided with spider arms whereby of springs 77. Thetension of thespring 77 may be adjusted by means of said screws 78 whereby the proper pressure may be ap lied to the valve.

T e rmg'76 also tends to orm a substantially steam ti ht 'oint which prevents leakage of motive flui between the inlet and exhaust sides of the said valve, past the rear thereof. This ring acts further as a means for relieving the valve of a part of the steam pressure, which would "otherwise be spaces are left to permit the free passage of exhaust motive fluid from'exhaust port or o ening 52 of the valve into an exhaust c amber 79 within the valve casing head 62. Thence the exhaust flows along a passage 80' (see Fi 2) and out through a discharge pipe 81. T e dischar e pipe 81, as will be seen by reference to valve casing 46 whereby it leaves the head 62 free for removal without necessitating the breaking of the pipe connection when, said ig. 2, connects with the.

mounted in a hub 83 which rises directlyfrom the casing 46 and through which direct connection for live motive fluidis made to the-interior of the valve casing.

What I claim is :v

a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a cylindrical piston freely mounted upon the crank ortion of the shaft within the cylinder, of a slidin abutment operated by the crank shaft and piston, the said abutment being provided with an anti-friction roller shaft and upon the other by the piston.

2. In a rotary engine the combinationwith a cylinder or casing, acrank shaft provided with a crank, and disks upon 0 posite sides crank and disks located within the cylinder or casing, of a roller piston freely mounted upon the said crank, a sliding abutment, and anti-fri tion rollers carried by the said abutment, the said anti-friction rollers engaged upon one side by the said disks and upon the ton.

with 'a crank and two. disks concentric with thesaid crank, the said crank and disks located within the cylinder, of a roller piston freely mounted upon the said crank within with the inner periphery of the said cylinder, the said. piston provided with. circular reof said recesses being arranged op osite to the circumferential edges of the sa1d disks, whereby an annular space is provided between the periphery of each disk and the Wall of its recesses, and a plurality of sliding abutments disposed radially with respect to the cylinder, each said abutment having arms which extend over the edges of the piston, and anti-friction rollers carried by the said arms which enter the said annular spaces substantially as set forth.-

4. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a shaft rovided with a crank portion arranged within the casing, a

crank portion within the casing, and a sliding abutment for subdividing thesteam space in the said cylinder and a single rotary valve mounted upon the shaft to one side of the cylinder for controlling both the 'said inlet and the said exhaust port.

5. In rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a shaft provided with a crank portion arranged withm the casing, a rotary piston loosely mounted upon the said crank portion within thecasing, and a lurality of sliding abutments for subdivi ing 1. In a rotary engine the combination with 3. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a shaft therefor provided the cylinder, of an inlet and exhaust port for removal is effected. The inlet pipe 82 is which is engaged upon one side by the. crank thereof concentric with the sai crank, said other side by concentric walls in the said pisthe cylinder, and arranged in rolling contact cesses for receiving the said disks, the Walls r rotary piston loosely mounted upon the said inlet ports and the said exhaust orts.

n a rotary engine the com ination with a cylinder or casing, a shaft provided with a crank portion arranged within the casing, a rotary piston loosely mounted upon the "crank portion within the casing, and a sliding abutment for subdividing the steam space in the cylinder, of an inlet and exhaust port for the said cylinder, a single rotary valve mounted upon the shaft to one side of the cylinder for controlling both the said inlet and the said exhaust ports, the said valve including a rotary late w uch determines the control for the sai inlet port, and means for adjusting the. position of the said rotary plate upon the valve.

7. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a shaft provided with a crank portion arranged witlun the casing, a rotary piston loosely mounted upon the crank portion within the casing, and a sliding abutment for subdividing the steam space in the cylinder, of an inlet and exhaust port for the said cylinder, a single rotary valve mounted upon the shaft to one side of the cylinder for controlling both the said inlet and the said exhaust. port, the said valve'inmeans eluding a rotary plate which determines the I control for the sa1d inlet port, and means for adjusting the position of the said rotary plate upon the valve from the exterior of the engine. 1

8. In a rotary engine the combination with acylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a piston, of a rotary valve mounted u on the shaft to one side of the cylinder, sai rotary valve containing inlet and exhaust ports, a presser late for the said rotary valve, and or applying a yielding pressure to force the sai p ate against the valve.

9. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a piston, of a valve casing located on one side of the said cylinder, a rotary valve mounted upon the shaftwithin thesaid valve casing, said valve having inlet and exhaust assa es therein, a presser late engaging ti ie va ve at the rear thereof at a point between the said inlet and exhaust passages, and means for applying a yielding pressure to the said presser plate. s

10. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a iston, of a valve casing, located on one si e of the said cylinder, a rotary valve mounted u on the shaft within the said valve casing, sai valve having inlet and exhaust passa es therein, means dividing the valve cham er into two parts including a presser 65. ring arranged to bear against the rear of the a rotary piston thereon,

I valve at a point between the inlet and exhaust passages, means for admitting motivefluid to the valve casing at a point upon one. side of the said presser plate, means for ex hausting 'motive fluid from the casing upon the other side of said presser plate, and means for appl ing a yie ding pressure to the presser p ate to force the same toward the said valve.

11. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a piston, of a valve casing secured to the c L- inder upon one side thereof, a rotary va ve mounted upon the crank shaft and provided with a concentric hub, the said valve casing also provided with an inwardly extending concentric hub upon which the hub of the valve is arranged to have a bearing, the said valve provided with inlet ports at a point upon one side of the said hu and with an exhaust passage upon the other side ofthe said hub, means for admitting motive fluidto the valve casing at a point exterior to the said hub, and means for discharging exhaust motive fluid through the interior of said hub.

12. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and of a rotar inlet valve mounted u on the shaft, sai valve rovided with a ub ortion, a rider late aving a hub mounte upon the hub 0 the valve, the two said hubs provided with divergent cam slots, and means for engaging the said cam slots to produce relative movements between the valve and the rider.

13. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a rotary piston thereon, of a rotary inlet valve mounted upon the shaft, said va ve provided with a hub portion, a rider plate havln a hub mounted upon the hub of the valve, t e two said hubs provided with divergent cam slots, a ring mounted to rotate with the said rider and valve, the said ring having means engaging the said cam slots, and means for imparting longitudinal movements .to the said ring, substantially as set forth.

14. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a rotary piston thereon, of a rota inlet valve mounted upon the shaft, said va ve with a hub portion, a rider plate havmgla hub mounted upon the hub of the valve, t e two said hubs provided with divergent cam slots, a ring mounted to rotate with the said rider and valve, the said ring having means enprovided ing,a rotary piston looselymounted upon the crank po'rtion within the casing, and a sliding abutment forsubdividing the steam space, in the cylinder, of an inlet and exhaust port for the said cylinder, a single rotary valve mounted upon the shaft to. one side of the cylinder for controlling both the said inlet and the said exhaust port, the said valve including aflrotary plate which determines the control forthe said inlet port, and automatic governing means for adjusting. the

position of the said rotary plate upon the valve.

I -16. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft and a piston, ofa rotary inlet valve mounted upon the shaft, said rotary valve having a plura ity of inlet ports disposed around the same, anda rider plate mounted upon the said valve, said rider plate provided with means for progressively closing the saidinlet ports.

' 17. In a rotary engine .the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crank shaft, and a piston, of a rotary inlet valve mountedupon the shaft, said rotary valve having a plurality of vinlet ports disposed around the same, and a rider'plate provided with a set 1 of openings corresponding tothe inlet ports in the valve but arranged slightly closer together.

18. In a rotary engine the combination with a cylinder or casing, a crankshaft, and a piston, of a rotary inlet valve-mounted upon the shaft, said rotary valve havin a plurality of inlet ports disposed around t e same,

and a rider plate provlded with a set of open;-

mgs corresponding to the inlet ports in the va ve but arran ed slightly closer together, I

the sum of the iiferences-of such distances plus the entire width of one of the ports of the said piston being provided withsteam r passages affordin communication between the rear of the sai 1 rings and the steam space of said cylinder, and springs bearing against the said rings to force them outwardly. HENRY W. N. COLE. Witnesses: a

J. W. CAREY, EDNA FYFn- 

